Green’s Dictionary of Slang

1. (UK Und.) a lively old man, esp. one who enjoys a drink [the drinking of toasts].

1667		R. L’Estrange (trans.) Visions of Quevedo 306: How often must I be put to the Blush too, when every old Toast shall be calling me Old Acquaintance.
c.1698		B.E. Dict. Canting Crew n.p.: Old-toast a brisk old Fellow. A pleasant Old Cuff, a frolicksom old Fellow.
1725		New Canting Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1737, 1759, 1760, 1776		Bailey Universal Etym. Eng. Dict. [as cit. c.1698].
1785, 1788, 1796		Grose Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1809		G. Andrewes Dict. Sl. and Cant.
1811		Lex. Balatronicum.
1823		Egan Grose’s Classical Dict. of the Vulgar Tongue.
1835		G. Kent Modern Flash Dict.
1848		Flash Dict. in Sinks of London Laid Open.
1859		Matsell Vocabulum.

2. the Devil [the heat of hell, in which sinners are toasted].

1890–1904

Farmer & Henley Sl. and Its Analogues.